Augsburg’s Evan Fuhs Checks in from Spain – Reflections on Europa and Champions League Finals from a Spanish Perspective
Augsburg men’s soccer assistant coach Evan Fuhs is blogging during the Auggies’ trip to Europe from May 3-13. For photos from the trip and more blogs, including thoughts from Augsburg student-athletes, go to the Augsburg men’s soccer website.
Augsburg men's soccer assistant coach Evan Fuhs
The Augsburg delegation could catch some Madrileños talking of La Roja’s chances and potential line-ups for the World Cup, on the streets and in both bars and newspapers. Nevertheless, we found that Madrid cannot yet turn its attention to South Africa, since their club season demands that their attention remain in the city. The two European cup finals (Europa and Champions League) both have significant ties to Madrid. Atlético Madrid triumphed over Fulham in the Europa final, and Real Madrid’s Estadio Santiago Bernabéu will play host to the Champions League final between Bayern Munich and Inter Milan on May 22nd.
On the night of May 12th, the team was enjoying a fantastic multi-course farewell dinner upstairs in a restaurant in downtown Madrid. Though we could not see a television from our tables, we could keep score of the match via cheers in the bar downstairs. After many courses, we were able to watch the final minutes of the match from the bar downstairs. Many Augsburg players watched the match replayed on TV in the hotel, upon returning from dinner. Beyond that, while we were in the airport on our way out of Madrid, we saw hordes of Atlético fans getting in from flights from Hamburg. In the packed and pumped up bar and the sleepy early morning airport, we saw two very different types of passion – first, absolute excitement and then tired pride.
Though Real Madrid exited Champions League early at the hands of Lyon, their stadium will host the storied tournament’s finale. On the day that our team toured the stadium, preparations for the event were just taking form. For example, across the street from the stadium was this full-building Heineken ad. During our adventures in the city, we saw many different advertisements for the event, including this one on the gates to the city’s famous Parque del Buen Retiro (“Park of the Pleasant Retreat”.) We were secretly hoping that the volcanic ash cloud would keep us stuck in Madrid until the final. Of course, we definitely wouldn’t be able to purchase tickets to the highly expensive match. Nevertheless, given the preparations we had seen around the city, one can only imagine the energy throughout the city during the final.
Though our schedule was not perfectly aligned with the major futból events in Madrid, we were close enough to sense the gravity of both pieces of history. Only after the city has finished tapping every bit of passion and excitement from these events will it turn to the World Cup.
Advertising for the Champions League Final in Madrid is everywhere says Fuhs.
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